Apple faces second class-action lawsuit over Siri

A new class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple over its Siri voice recognition feature of the iPhone 4S with allegations that the company is falsely representing the service's capabilities.

iPhone 4S owner David Jones filed suit against the Cupertino, Calif., company on Tuesday, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The new lawsuit echoes a similar complaint filed by a consumer in New York earlier this month.

"Through its nationwide multimedia marketing campaign, Apple disseminates false and deceptive representations regarding the functionality of the Siri feature," the report noted the suit as claiming. "For example, in many of Apple's television commercials, consumers are shown using Siri to make appointments, find restaurants, and even to learn the guitar chords to classic rock songs. In its advertisements, Apple depicts these tasks as easily accomplished "just by asking" Siri."

The complaint went on to characterize Apple's commercials as a"deceptive" because they "diverge greatly" from real world use of the feature by the plaintiff and "fellow consumers."

For Jones specifically, "Siri would either not understand what Plaintiff asked, or, after a long wait, provided the wrong answer," the suit read. He purchased the smartphone in December and is seeking "relief and damages" for himself and other iPhone 4S buyers.

Most of Apple's advertising efforts for the iPhone 4S have focused on Siri. The first commercial for the company's latest handset showcased the range of tasks that Siri is capable of performing. Subsequent TV spots took a more narrative approach and showed iPhone 4S users relying on Siri for a cross-country trip and starting a rock band.

A recent study found that 87 percent of iPhone 4S owners use Siri at least monthly. Some respondents called the functionality the "best thing since the invention of toast," while others described it as "very disappointing."

Scattered reports have emerged of users, especially those with accents not specifically accommodated by Apple, having trouble operating Siri. Despite the fact that Apple has actively promoted Siri, the software remains in beta.

Siri currently understands French, German, Japanese and Australian, British and American English. Apple has promised to teach Siri Mandarin, Italian, Korean and Spanish later this year.